The screenshot of the Malaysiakini article says it all.
There is no cure for stupid.
Pamela Clark
With the “heritage footballers” scandal doing serious damage to Malaysia’s honour and reputation, along comes the Umno-Baru supreme council member Puad Zarkashi who thinks that there is nothing wrong with the government’s decision to grant citizenship to the seven “heritage” football players who cheated by falsifying their documents.
Puad, who is also the Johore said, “Why must we politicise ‘heritage’ players’ citizenship? What’s wrong in giving them citizenship in the interest of ‘national agenda’?”
He added that “it was a strategic decision made by the government to ensure Malaysia gets qualified to enter the World Cup games.”
In other words, he is saying that it is ok to cheat just because this way, we can enter the World Cup.
Is he serious? FIFA has fined FAM, 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.8 million), while each player was fined 2,000 Swiss francs and suspended for 12 months from all football-related activities, effective from the date of notification of the decision.
With politicians like Puad, we may as well invite suitable foreigners who are educated, and with high integrity and moral standing, who are upright and honest, and grant them citizenship to become Malaysians, so that these people can lead the nation properly. We reject these half baked ADUNs and MPs.
Puad’s defence of cheating under the guise of patriotism insults Malaysia’s integrity. Our good name, honour, and future depend on standing firm for truth
- Would Puad care to tell this to thousands of stateless people who have been here for years, who have been rejected or are still waiting for confirmation, and who speak BM fluently? Will they be
- Many capable and intelligent and upright Malaysians, who were denied the equal opportunities in the country, because they were of the wrong race, wrong religion or wrong character, have relocated overseas, mostly to Singapore. So, we are saddled with the likes of Puad who think it is ok to cheat because that means we get to be in the World Cup. Where did he park his brain?
- How did we end up with politicians of Puad’s calibre. This is why with this sort of warped logic and thinking, Malaysia is such a mess today.
Here are ten reasons why Puad Zarkashi is wrong.
1. Citizenship is not a tool for convenience.
Granting citizenship should be an act of national trust and belonging . Citizenship is not about convenience or winning goals; it is a lifelong commitment to a shared destiny.
2. Integrity cannot be traded for trophies.
FIFA’s sanctions show that falsification and forgery were involved. TO justify the cheating is inexcusable and indefensible. What sort of mindset do these Umno-Baru politicians have. Where is the honour in trading our integrity for trophies.
3. Following another country’s model blindly is dangerous.
Why emulate Singapore’s Foreign Sports Talent (FST) which was probably created under very different social and political conditions? This shows that our leaders lack credibility and are very insecure. It also shows they lack morals, lack principles and lack creativity. They may be failures in their own lives, but why lead the nation into ruin?
4. Honour in sports does not come from cheating or shortcuts.
Sport is supposed to unite a nation through hard work, dedication, commitment, honest effort, discipline, and fair play. Cheating is not fair play. Victories built on falsified documents is cheating. It tells our athletes that cheating is tolerable and it destroys good sportsmanship.
5. Our youth learn from what we tolerate.
If leaders condone deceit for “national interest,” our young will conclude that dishonesty is acceptable when it benefits them. This corrupts not only football but the moral fibre of the next generation. We should teach them that success earned with sweat is worth more than victory bought with lies. This is why Malaysia is a mess today.
6. National pride cannot be outsourced.
A team full of imported players, fast-tracked through questionable means, doesn’t represent Malaysian pride. It represents cheating and desperation and a rejection of hard work and investment of our local talent.
7. The government’s role is to protect integrity, not to excuse fraud.
The Home Minister’s use of discretionary power to legitimise those implicated in forgery raises grave concerns. Leadership is about accountability. There can never be any excuses to justify cheating
8. Comparing Malaysia to others is ignoring our unique diversity and heritage.
Malaysia’s diversity and cultural richness are our strength. We should nurture and invest in our youth, and not celebrate foreigners who were imported to represent the country
9. Our international reputation is at stake.
When FIFA fines and sanctions our football association, it signals to the world that Malaysia tolerated deceit. What does that say about the senior politicians who uphold cheating? What does it say about their credibility and integrity. A reputation lost, can never be regained easily.
10. True national agenda is to build and invest in our youth
If our goal is to qualify for the World Cup, then the answer lies in better training, fair selection, and nurturing grassroots talent. We uplift Malaysians, not replace them with imports. A nation’s good name is built by courage, honesty, and perseverance, and it is not about the copying, excusing, or falsifying route.
Our good name, honour, and future depend on standing firm about the truth. We do not sacrifice our good name and dignity forever, for a short term victory today.
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